Making bandsaw wheels

[tonyfoale]

Way cool play-toy!

I wonder: can a motorcycle wheel be balanced? Like a car's wheel?

Charles

Yes, of course. With older style wire spoked wheels it was usual to wrap lead wire (solder was often used) around a spoke at the light side of the wheel. You could also buy cast lead weights which you could clamp to a spoke.
With cast wheels such as I used on the bandsaw, it is usual to use adhesive backed weight strips to stick on to the inside edge of the rim. Up until lead became poisonous these strips were lead now they are a substitute material with lower density and so you need more for the same effect.
I checked the balance of the bandsaw wheels and they were both close enough not to be a concern at the metal cutting speeds that I use. I would have balanced them if I was running at wood cutting speed.
Because these wheels are narrow you can use a simple static balance device to check the balance, no need for dynamic balance. Here is a picture which shows a typical balance device being used for racing wheels.